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Doroteo
G. (Joty) Baca was born on December 30th, in the year
1928. Born in a wagon on the way to the doctor. Born in Tome,
New Mexico to Antonio and Alicia Baca.
Virginia
J. (Galindo) Baca was born on August 21st, in the year
1933. Born in Los Angeles, California to Henry and Clara Galindo.
Virginia
and Joty were married on the 7th day of April, in the
year 1951. Though the years they were blessed with 9 children.
Dorothy Jean on August 8, 1952, Richard Timothy August
22, 1953, Anthony Leo on May 19, 1955, Paulina Rose on July 19,
1956, Mark Kenneth on January 27, 1958, Marian Annette on May 5,
1959, Diane Elizabeth on December 25, 1960, and the twins Gregory
Gerald and Roxanne Geraldine born on March 30, 1962.
Sadly, at
the end of 1951 his life was put on hold as a result of his
calling to serve in Korea. Joty left his wife home with his
family. Virginia was 2 months pregnant at the time with his first
of 9 children. He left to serve his country. To fight for the
freedom we enjoy today. He fought for 10 months in full combat.
With
pain and sadness beyond words he returned home. With a heavy heart
Joty saw his 3-month-old baby girl, Dorothy Jean for the first
time. His love so intense for his wife and baby. Yet his heart
irreparably wounded. Always to wonder… what does God think of
soldiers?
Doroteo
(Joty) Baca remembers the beautiful Spanish Horse from his youth.
Always feeling a strong connection and a passion to preserve this
precious piece of history. Deeply saddened by the atrocities that
existed in his time. Mass killings of mustangs, efforts to
“breed-up” involved shooting stallions only to replace them
with larger horses. It was truly a sad time. He among other
ranchers decided he must fight the slaughter. He must take
responsibility and save the breed that our country was built on.
This was the original and pure Spanish horse, the horse that
carried the conquistadors during the colonization
of the new world.
Knowing how difficult the task he began assembling his own herd,
still untouched by other breeds.
Times
were hard, working at the post office during the day, running the
riding stables after hours. Hurrying home to his wife and nine
children. There were never enough hours in the day. Have to feed
the horses, cow, chickens, and pigs, plow the fields, irrigate the
orchard…on and on. Not enough hay, the kids need shoes, need to
get some meat in the freezer. Another bill goes unpaid.
Virginia
is his beautiful bride from California. The most incredible woman
he had ever known. Always singing, always smiling. She filled with
love. Always doing her part….churning her own butter, making
bread, tortillas, beans and an incredible Spanish rice. Always
working, cleaning clothes for 11 with a hand turning washing
machine. Rarely able to buy groceries from the store they lived
off the fruits of the farm. Doing homework. Getting 9 kids ready
for school. Making their clothes by hand. Our clothes were hand me
downs, but they were clean.
And
most importantly and constant, was the never-ending faith in God.
How
easy it would have been to sell the horses, to give up this
demanding side of life. How easy and yet quite impossible, as this
was to be his legacy.
Doroteo
and Virginia still carry on at Baca Chica Farms with the original
and rare strain of Spanish Horse they began 50+ years ago.
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